Easy reading is damn hard writing – Nathaniel Hawthorne B. A. Binns, author of multicultural young adult fiction about Real Boys Growing Into Real Men…and the people who love them B A is the author of three young adult novels, Pull (Westside Books, 2010) a YALSA Quick Picks For Young Adult Readers book; Being God […]
Some of you know that I give workshops and teach classes for authors and readers. One of those classes is Adding The Spice of Diversity. Originally given as a Workshop at the 2014 Chicago North RWA Spring Fling conference, the material is now a four week course allowing attendees time to delve deep in to
Adding the Spice of Diversity class Read More »
My holiday gift to you is a short story (OK, flash fiction) I wrote featuring characters from my second book, Being God. Malik Kaplan\’s mother is Catholic and his father Jewish, so when the relatives get together to celebrate the holidays, festive is not always the right word. If you read to the end I
Today I am off at Harper college in Palatine, Illinois for SCBWI\’s annual Prairie Writer\’s and Illustrators day, a conference for filled with authors, illustrators, editors and agents. There are contests, workshop sessions, portfolio reviews, and general information sharing and networking. This year they are featuring something new. Lunch and Learn sessions, where people will
SCBWI Prarie Writers and Illustrators Day Diversity session Read More »
I am about to be completely, almost scary honest. I\’m an author, and I belong to multiple writing groups, we share our work, do critiques, give feedback, share tips and all that stuff. Last night I attended my very last meeting of one group. To me it\’s an example of what happens when good ideas
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Diverse books for young readers were plentiful at the Chicago Black Authors tent this weekend at the 2014 Printer\’s Row Literature Festival in Chicago, Il. We faced a steady stream of interested kids, parents and teachers both Saturday and Sunday. I had the misfortune of selling out my stock of copies of Pull early on
Books filled with life’s quirks, kinks, and diversity – #weneeddiversebooks Read More »
I have this Superfan named Michael. It\’s always nice to know someone out there reads–and loves–my books. He took upon himself the task to make my books easily available to others. He had to special order my new book, Minority of One from his local Barnes and Noble because they don\’t carry it. And then,
On Friday I traveled the 144 miles to Bloomington Illinois to meet with freshmen at Bloomington High School. I was invited by Keran Johnson, the school\’s retiring Library Media Specialist (she\’s in full countdown mode). We met last fall when I spoke at the Illinois School Library Media Association in Springfield, and she mentioned how
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As an African American author I look forward to the annual Romance Slam Jam conference. for readers and authors of black romance. RSJ Authors This year was the 19th RSJ and the theme was \”Romancing The Big Easy\” and the get-together was in Kennar Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans. The conference covers four days
Look at the kids and see why #weneeddiversebooks Read More »
This week I was asked to do this week\’s post on The Writing Process (as if I have a for-real process.) I want to thank my friend and fellow author Ellen Parker or inviting me to join The Writing Processblog hop. Ellen writes Romance from the Heartland and you can find out more about her
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